Tax Policy

Fiscal Cliff: The Up on the Sun Playlist for Your Financial Woes

If you're not a thumbsucking moron who only cares about which overzealous rapper impregnated which leg-spreading reality star, you might've heard of this thing called the "fiscal cliff." If not, lemme just clue you in via economist Paul Craig Roberts: "The fiscal cliff is automatic spending cuts an ... More >>

If Mitt Romney Won't Tell You Which Corrupt Tax Loopholes Need to Be Closed, We Will

Jan Brewer Gets a "D" in Economics From the Libertarian Cato Institute

The libertarian Cato Institute has not been taking it easy on Arizona -- it has consistently said the state's immigration laws are no good for the economy, and now it's giving Governor Jan Brewer a "D" in fiscal policy.The idea behind the grade is simple: "governors who have cut taxes and spending t ... More >>

Debate 2012: Romney and Obama Attack, Jim Lehrer Loses Control -- the Media Room View

The following post was written by Sam Levin, an editorial fellow at New Times' Denver-based sister paper, Westword. Although Senator John McCain easily won Arizona in the 2008 election, team Obama believes Arizona is in play this time around. Read on for observation and analysis from last night's de ... More >>

"Obamacare": Nancy Barto, Senate Health Chair, Drops Multiple Debunked Talking Points About Law, Including the "Lie of the Year"

Republican state Senator Nancy Barto is the chairman of the Senate Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform Committee, which would make you think Barto knows a thing or two about how health care works.After taking a look at her comments on the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Patient Protection ... More >>

El Mirage Officials Snub City's Only Gas Station, Take Business to Neighboring Cities

​El Mirage city officials, cops and firefighters filled up their gas tanks at the city's only gas station for more than a year and a half without any qualms about the fuel prices.That's back when Joe David, the shop owner, was a political ally.But now that David started opposing a proposed propert ... More >>

Greg Stanton, Phoenix Mayoral Candidate, Criticizes Opponent Wes Gullett for Advocating for Tax Increase for the Arts

​Former Councilman Greg Stanton, who is facing Wes Gullett in the November election for Phoenix mayor, is calling out his opponent for pledging to voters that he would champion a  tax increase to support the arts.Stanton calls himself a "strong and passionate" supporter of the arts, but says ... More >>

Russell Pearce Foe Andrew Sherwood Opts Out of LD18 Donnybrook

Sherwood's out, but he'll support the most viable candidate against Pearce Andrew Sherwood, the Mesa Democrat who unsuccessfully took on Republican state Senator Russell Pearce in 2010 (before Pearce was Senate president), just called to let me know that he will not be throwing his derby in the ring ... More >>

State Senator Russell Pearce's Lawsuit to Derail West Valley Casino Tossed By Courts

Russell Pearce ​U.S. District Court Judge David G. Campbell has denied an attempt by Senator Russell Pearce to join a lawsuit filed by the City of Glendale and the Gila River Indian Community against the Department of the Interior.Glendale and the Gila are suing the Interior Department ... More >>

Democratic Congressional Candidate Jon Hulburd's Republican Talking Points Appealing to District 3 GOPers -- Especially His Republican Wife

Democratic Congressional candidate Jon Hulburd​At first glance it would appear there is a Republican and a Democrat running for Congress in Arizona's Third District. However, every time the Democrat in the race, Jon Hulburd, opens his mouth he sounds more like a Democrat trying to get electe ... More >>

Rodney Glassman: Put Off "Largest Middle-Class Tax Increase in History" -- Of Course, That's Only "Until the Economy Recovers"

​ Rodney Glassman, the young, rich, Democrat running for U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican John McCain, loves the tax cuts put into place by former President George W. Bush. It's surprising to hear any Dem praising a move by Bush, who still gets the credit by President Obama for today' ... More >>

Spokesman for Rodney Glassman Says Dem Senate Candidate Supports Making Bush-Era Tax Cuts for Middle Class Permanent

Rodney Glassman would make Bush-era tax cuts permanent, says his spokesman.​ Rodney Glassman, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, would make the Bush-era tax cuts permanent for the middle class, says his spokesman, Blake Morlock. The candidate's spokesman, Blake Morlock, called us after rea ... More >>

Morning Poll: Is Jon Hulburd a Republican?

Democratic (?) Congressional candidate Jon Hulburd​One look at the tax plan of Democratic Congressional candidate Jon Hulburd and you'd think the guy's a Republican.Hulburd's plan includes things like extending the Bush tax cuts through 2012, permanently lowering the corporate tax rate from 35 pe ... More >>

Umm...is Congressional Candidate Jon Hulburd a Republican? He Assures Us, He's Not

Democratic (?) Congressional candidate Jon Hulburd​Congressional candidate Jon Hulburd, who's squaring off with Ben Quayle in the District 3 Congressional race, went On the Record with Greta Van Susteren last night, and he would have looked great -- if he were a Republican.Hulburd's appearan ... More >>

Dick Armey Rips J.D. Hayworth on CNBC This Morning

J.D. Hayworth​With all the fun taking place in the District 3 Congressional primary, and because his campaign's pretty much been dead-in-the-water since news of his infomercial stardom made headlines, former Congressman J.D. Hayworth's futile attempt to become Arizona's next senator has been pushe ... More >>

Owen "Buz" Mills "Suspends" Gubernatorial Campaign

Owen "Buz" Mills​Arizona Governor Jan Brewer's life got a little easier today with news that her last remaining opponent in the GOP primary for Governor, Owen "Buz" Mills, is suspending his campaign.Mills announced his decision to suspend his candidacy today saying the focus of the campaign was no ... More >>

Tea Party T-Shirt: Can What You Wear Determine Whether You Can Go to the Polls?

"Joe the Plumber" Drops by State Capitol to Oppose Possible Sales-Tax Increase; When Asked Why He's Against it, "The Plumber" Dodges Question

www.inquisitr.com "Joe the Plumber" sealing his fate as a conservative icon by confronting then-presidential candidate Obama during the campaign. ​ Samuel Wurzelbacher, better known as "Joe the Plumber," the conservative icon from the 2008 presidential election, paid a visit to the state ca ... More >>

Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform President, Endorses McCain in Senate Primary; He Takes a Swipe at J.D. Hayworth, Too

American for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist​The president of the Conservative group, Americans for Tax Reform, gave Senator John McCain a ringing endorsement this week in his primary bid to fend off his GOP opponent, former congressman turned AM radio host, J.D. Hayworth.Grover Norquist says ... More >>

A Statewide Sales Tax Hike for the Arts — In This Economy? Are They Insane?

Legislature Enters Special Session Today; Maybe the Fourth Time's a Charm

​The Arizona State Legislature enters its fourth special session of the year today, with the hopes of ironing out a plan to put some sort of dent in the current $2 billion budget gap. Good luck. One thing will be absent from this round of bickering, however: The standard squabble over a propo ... More >>

Senate Majority Whip Pam Gorman Resigns Post 'Cause of Republican Infighting

Arizona State Senator Pamela Gorman​If you can't beat em', quit. That's what one Arizona lawmaker chose to do today as the state budget battle wages on.Senate Majority Whip Pamela Gorman resigned her post in the Republican leadership in response to the party's support of a 1-cent-sales-tax i ... More >>

Governor Brewer Keeps Up Offensive on Budget Bill

Governor Jan Brewer is keeping up the pressure on lawmakers today to send her a budget plan, calling a news conference this morning at 11 a.m. on the steps of the Arizona Supreme Court. Brewer told reporters yesterday she is asking the Supreme Court justices to force State Senate President Bob ... More >>

Governor Brewer Unveils Budget Proposals; Wants Tax Increase and $600M More in Cuts

Governor Jan Brewer released her budget proposal today for fiscal year 2010 -- as expected, she formalizes her opinion that a tax increase is needed. "Unfortunately, after considering every option, and after performing a painstaking assessment of our real economic situation, a temporary tax increas ... More >>

Chewie Stays on Attack, Opens Full Blasters on HighGround Lobbyist Chuck Coughlin

Chuck Coughlin, the Republican heavyweight lobbyist of the HighGround PR firm, is a liberal-leaning, tax-supporting, poll-twisting propagandist -- says the anonymous "Chewie" today on the right-wing blog Sonoran Alliance.The pachyderm rumble we've been covering is still rolling along, to our amu ... More >>

Governor 2010: Anti-Brewer Conservatives are First to File

Tim WillisThree people have signed up to run for governor in next year's election, including two conservatives who say they're in the race specifically to counter Jan Brewer's tax-increase proposal. Brewer, who fell into the governor's chair when Janet Napolitano eloped with President Obama, has yet ... More >>

"Appearance of Evil" Requires Personal Sanctions Against County Attorney Andrew Thomas, Say County Supervisors

A conflict of interest between Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and the county Board of Supervisors over the investigation of a planned court tower creates the "appearance of evil," a judge has ruled.  Judge Gary Donahoe The background: In the midst of a feud with the County Superv ... More >>

Governor Brewer's Campaign Manager: Too Many Spending Cuts May Mean Election Probs for Republicans; Says "Temporary" Tax Needed

An interesting little spat is brewing over at the right-wing Sonoran Alliance blog, where our favorite, furry whipping post, the anonymous "Chewie," has upset the elephant cart.Chewie has inside info, supposedly, that Governor Jan Brewer's campaign manager, lobbyist and public relations expert Chuck ... More >>

Hot Links: ASU Settles in Rape Case, Lawmakers Ponder Tax Code Overhaul; Tribe Allows Liquor Sales for Loop 101-Area Restaurants

So-called "date rape" cases will be handled differently at the state's three universities because of a lawsuit settlement -- no more sweeping cases under the rug. State lawmakers are considering a change to tax code -- critics say that's code for tax hike. Drink up on Indian land: The Salt ... More >>

Jan Brewer: Herbert Hoover in High Heels and a Pantsuit

Separated at birth? According to economist Paul Krugman, it's possible. Will soon-to-be Arizona Governor Jan Brewer repeat the mistakes of Republicans in the midst of the Great Depression, specifically those of President Herbert Hoover?It seems likely. With a GOP-led legislature intent on "starv ... More >>

Dean Martin, State Treasurer, Takes Position Against State in Lawsuit by Cities

State Treasurer Dean Martin (at left) is named in a lawsuit against the state by a group of Arizona municipalities who don't want to pay millions of dollars in new fees. And Martin hopes he and the state will lose. The treasurer sent a letter today (reprinted below) to state Solicitor General Mary ... More >>

John Birch-ers, Ron Paul-ites and loads of white folk at Gilbert's Constitution Week Fair.

History of Deceit

Why should we approve this bond election when Phoenix City Hall has lied to us big-time in the past?

Elephant Slayer

Napolitano deftly played politics this legislative session to fend off all GOP foes

The "T" Word

State leaders can't stomach the truth -- Arizonans need to be taxed more, and right away!

Fiscal Fissure

Deep cuts proposed to state budget set up bleak future for Arizonans

BOB's a Bust

Bank One Ballpark was touted as a powerful economic engine for downtown. Data show, however, that BOB has fueled sales mostly for BOB. The meager spillover doesn't bode well for the Arizona Cardinals' stadium aspirations.

Shafted Again

Mining industry strikes another rich vein in the Legislature

Budget Bonanza or Bust?

Discord between GOP lawmakers and the governor is just one reason the budget battle might get ugly.

Tax Breaks Thicker Than Thieves ... when industry sidles over for a handout

Letters

Tax Rebels With a Cause

Reform Fitting but Unlikely

Letters

Fife's Myth

Symington's tax cuts had little or nothing to do with Arizona's economic boom, which isn't as robust as it's made out to be

A Pain in the Assessment

Some nonprofits get propertytax bills from Maricopa County

When Revolution Meets Reality

Governor Symington says his massive tax cuts have brought prosperity to Arizona. Actually, they are bringing on a fiscal train wreck that could damage the state for decades.

The High Cost of Education Reform

The Symington administration touts market-based reform as a cure for Arizona's educational ills. Behind that rhetoric, state policies are driving public schools toward financial collapse.

JERRY PANDERING BEGETS GERRYMANDERINGSUPERVISORS PLAY POLITICAL HOT POTATO WITH SUN CITY AND SUN CITY WEST

PITCHING A SHUTOUTTHE PUBLIC WAS CUT OUT OF THE BASEBALL-STADIUM DEBATE BEFORE IT EVEN BEGAN